Folding desk



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1'.

'- M. J. HAFGAR.

FOLDING DESK. 910,271,061; Patented Jan.28,1883.

WITNESSES '[NVENTOR A/M7WM/ BY ATTORNEYS.

PEYERS. PhnloLithugpphdn Watmglm D, C.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' M. J. HAFGAR.

FOLDING DESK. No. 271,061. Patented Jan.23, 1883.

WITNESSES INVENTOR (a fli /fi/Jw 7%. My BY ATTOgNEjS.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet-E.

' M. J. HAFGAR.

WITNESSES M INVBNTOR: fla m W a ATTORNEYS.

N Pains. PhnhrLlllmgrnylhun Wawmglnm D c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

M. J. HAPGAR.

FOLDING DESK.

No. 271,061. Patented Ja, n.23, 1883.

WITNESSES INVENTGR: m fiz/fiaz), y

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ATTORNEYS.

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Warren STATES PATENT Carlee.

MAGNUS J. BAFGAR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING DESK.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 271,061, dated January 23, 1883.

Application filed February 17, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MAGNUS J. HAFGAR,--of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Folding Desk, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved desk which can be folded to occupy very little space, and when opened or extended presents a very large front.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved folding desk, showing one ofthe hinged wings swung open, one of the doors of this wing opened, and the hinged top plate of the wing swung down. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, showing the wings swung open, parts being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the under side of the desk, showing the wings swung open or outward and the sliding shelves and the sliding writingboard or leaf withdrawn, the bottom plate being removed. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the top of the slotted plates in the bottom of the desk for the bottom arms of the wings. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the top of the desk, the wings being swung open and the top plate of the desk removed.

The desk A is provided with two hinged or pivoted swinging end wings, B B, which have theirouter surfaces or sides ornamented to represent the front of a closed desk. The desk is provided with a horizontal longitudinal recess, C, containing the sliding writing board or leaf 0, which is covered with cloth,'leather, oil cloth, &c., in theusual manner. This board or leaf (5 can be pushed into the recess or opening C when not in use, and can be withdrawn in case it is to be used. A fixed bracketarm, 1), projecting from the front of the desk A, is provided on its upper edge with a ridge, to, fitting into a transverse guide-groove, b, in the under side of the sliding writing board or leaf 0. A bracket-arm, E, is pivoted to the outer or front edge of each end standard, A, of the desk A, directly below the sliding writing board or leaf C", and the bracket-arms E are each provided with a longitudinallyslotted angular arm, F, resting against the under screw or piutle, 0, passes through the slot of each arm F into the sliding leaf C. The leaf is also provided with check pintles or studs (1. projecting from its under side. When the leaf C is drawn outward the studs 0 draw the arms F outward, and they swing the bracketarnis E outward to support the ends of the leaf C.

The desk is provided with pigeon-holes, compartments, drawers, &c., for books, papers, 85c ,above andbelo w the sliding leaf '0. These subdivisions and compartments can be arranged in different ways, as may be desired. The wings B and B are each provided at the top and bottom with an arm, Gr, projecting at right angles from the inner sides of these wings.

The top and bottom of the desk A are provided at each end with a plate, H, provided with aquadrant-slot, (I, crossing the inner rear corner or q narter of the plate H. These plates H are further each provided with adiagonal slot, 0, between the front and outer corner of the plate and the curved slot d, as shown in Figs. at and 5. The arms G are provided at the outer ends with studs or pintles f, passing into the quadrant-slots (Z, and with studs or pintles g, passing into the diagonal slots 0, the distance from the pintlef to the pintleg on each arm G being equal to the distance from the outer end of the slot 6 to the middle ofthe slot at. If the wings are swung open, the arms G .extend accross the plates H from the ends, as shown in Figs. 4. and 5, the studs or pintlesg being at the inner ends of the slots 6, and the studs or pintlesf are at the inner ends of the quadrant-slots d. If the wings B and B are swung over the front of the desk A, as indidioated by the arrows at, Fig. 5, the studs 9 will move to the opposite ends of the slots 6 and the studsfto the middle of the slots (1, and then the studsfmove to the rear or outer ends of the slots (1 and the studs 9 move back to the inner ends of the slots 6, and the arms Gr will extend across the plates H from the front to the rear of the desk A.

The base-rails J, projecting from the front of the desk at the euds,are provided on the upper surface with a protecting-plate, K, over which parabolic or other curved tracks, L, on the under sides of the wings B B pass, for the purpose of supporting the wings during the time they are being swung to and from the ends and front of the desk A and when held at the ends of this desk.

The top of the desk is provided with an ornamental top plate, L, above the top plates H, and the bottom of the desk is provided with a bottom plate, L below the bottom plates H. The arms G slide in the recesses between the top plate L and the top of the desk and between the bottom and the bottom plate L The wings B B are each provided in the inner sides with recesses M, adapted to receive the projecting part of the sliding writing board or leaf 0 when the wings are folded on the front of the desk. The bottom of each recess M is formed by a sliding shelf or book-support, N, which can be withdrawn from the inner or meeting ends of the wings when these wings are swung open. Those parts of the wings below the recesses M are provided with pigeonholes and compartments, which are o en at the meeting ends of the wings, and at the front of the lower part of the wings at the outer ends, these latter parts of the wings being closed by hinged doors 0. Above the recesses M the wings B are each provided with a longitudinal aperture adapted to receive a sliding pigeon-hole box, P. When the section 1? is entirely withdrawn from the opening in the wing it is swung or turned to one side to expose the end of the section P In front of the boxes P letter boxes or compartments Q are arranged in the wings, and into these compartments Q the letters are dropped through slots 1%. Above the letterboXes the wings 13-13 are provided with downward-swinging covers S, which, when lowered or opened, form writing-boards-thatis, desks for persons that write standing-so that three persons can write on this improved desk at the same time.

The desk can be made of any desired or suitable size, and the subdivisions, compartments, &e., can be arranged in various different ways, as may be desired.

The desk can be opened and closed very easily and rapidly, and when closed has the appearance of an ordinary writing-desk; but

I when opened it presents a largesubdivided surface, in which large quantities of files and 2 eriaoeii papers can be held, assorted, and arranged in proper groups in such a manner as to beeasily accessible.

When the wings B B are swung open they will rest transversely against the ends of the desk, and their meeting ends will be at the front of the desk. In this respect my desk is entirely different from other folding desks in which the inner surfaces, but not the ends of the wings, are at the front of the desk when the wings are swung open.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the desk A, of the sliding leaf 0, the pivoted bracket-arms E, provided with longitudinally-slotted arms F, and of the studs 0, passing through the slots of thearms F into the leaf U, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the desk A, of the sliding leat O, the supporting-bracket 1), the pivoted bracket-arms E, provided with longitudinally-slotted arms F, and of the studs or screws 0 and 01, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the desk A, of the win-gs B B, the arms G on the top and bottom of these wings, and the plates H, provided with segment-slots ti and diagonal slots 6 on the top and bottom of thedesk A, and of pivots or pintles passing from the arms G into these slots, snbstantiallyas herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of wings having recesses M, a bracket-arm, 1), provided with the ridge a on its upper edge, a sliding leaf, (3, having a transverse groove, 1), on its under side, the bracket-arms E, having longitudinally-slotted angular arms F, and the pintles 0, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. A folding desk wing provided at the top and bottom with an arm, G, projecting at right angles from the inner sides of these wings, and having studs f9, in combination with a plate, H, having slots 61 e, as and for the pur- I00 pose specified.

MAGNUS JOHNSON HAFGAR.

Witnesses:

ADOLPHLUNDBERG, TWAR LINDAHL. 

